ROYAL Wootton Bassett Town had to do it the hard way against Wokingham & Emmbrook, before claiming a 2-1 victory.

Bassett were on the back-foot from the off as goalkeeper Curtis Meare was given his marching orders with less than 10 minutes on the clock for a foul in the box.

That inevitably led to a double blow for the home side as Jake Butler fired the resulting spot-kick past replacement keeper Steve Yeardley.

Bassett did not let that affect them, though, but neither was able to make any further inroad on the scoreboards.

Paul Braithwaite’s side had to be at their battling best early in the second half as the visitors’ man advantage started to show.

Bassett kept digging in and were awarded a penalty of their own after 56 minutes following a handball in the box. Stephen Olphert kept his cool from the spot to draw his side level.

The hosts then upped the temp and took the lead with just four minutes remaining.

Wokingham failed to clear the ball allowing Matt Cheetham to threading into the path of Sam Packer, who outmuscled his marker before firing the winner